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NOCK Vice President arrested as noose tightens on Rio mess

President Uhuru Kenyatta handing over the flag to Team Kenya. He released a tough statement last week saying action must be taken on those found guilty of mismanaging the team in Rio

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 29- National Olympic Committee of Kenya Second Vice President Pius Ochieng’ who traveled to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as Team manager was on Sunday evening arrested and detained by police officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

This brings to four the number of NOCK officials arrested since Friday when Secretary General FK Paul, CEO James Chacha and Chief de Mission Stephen Soi were rounded up and locked up.

Soi was however freed on a police bond on Sunday evening on medical grounds.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Ndegwa Muhoro has not stated the exact charges the three will face–but confirmed they are related to the misappropriation of NIKE kits among others.

FK Paul was picked up from his home in Nairobi while the two others—Chacha and Soi—were handcuffed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on arrival from Rio where they were accused of mismanaging the Kenyan team—including booking them in dingy hotels on outskirt suburbs at the end of the games sparking outrage from Kenyans following tweets from some of the athletes.

On Saturday, police raided NOCK offices and seized uniforms and other kits that were meant for the Rio Olympics and which the officials are accused of misappropriating.

“The raid was conducted this morning and several dozens of cartons with the sports kits have been recovered. The investigation is centered on the misappropriation of Sports kits donated by NIKE which were misappropriated and not given to the athletes,” a senior officer involved in the raid told Capital FM News.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario was the first to be questioned by police last week over the management of the team that represented Kenya in the just concluded Rio Olympics following complaints by the athletes on the manner in which they were treated while there.

Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Ndegwa Muhoro told Capital FM News that “the investigation is wide and will cover all the complaints raised, that includes the missing kits.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta has personally weighed in on the matter and directed a full investigation, saying “questions must be asked and action taken.”

Athletes are accusing NOCK officials of limiting the number of sports kits donated by NIKE for the Olympics and instead diverted them for their own selfish gains among other accusations.

Meanwhile, the list of people who travelled to Rio has finally surfaced with the revelation of a bloated list of officials from NOCK and the Ministry of Sports—including family members who were not supposed to travel as part of the official delegation.

It has emerged that Secretary General FK Paul and NOCK President Kipchoge Keino both carried their sons along and are listed down in the official travel list alongside Stephen Soi’s wife.

FK Paul has defended himself against the accusations, claiming he had paid for his son’s air ticket as well as expenses in Rio, although he appears on the approved travel list by NOCK.

Wario who absolved himself from any blame travelled with three bodyguards, and his personal assistant.

Sixteen members of the steering committee also traveled to Rio including officials from the Anti Doping Association of Kenya, Sports Kenya and the Kenya National Sports Council.

On Friday night, Team Kenya Captain Wesley Korir who is also the Cherangany MP said he will sponsor a motion to impeach the Sports CS for failing to discharge his mandate properly.

“I will sponsor the impeachment motion against the CS because as the man in charge of the Sports docket he should be held responsible,” he said on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (JKIA).

He adds they will also sue NOCK officials for mismanaging the team among other accusations, while faulting Wario on his announcement to disband the body.

“The CS has no mandate to disband NOCK, he should start by himself because he was in Rio and did nothing when we informed him of what we were undergoing.” he said.

Sports Kenya Board Chairman Fred Muteti on Saturday announced that stakeholders were scheduled to meet at the Kasarani stadium on Monday to pick delegation to represent Kenya in an anti-NOCK petition to the International Olympics Committee (IOC).

A lover of sports who seeks to tell the African story in an African way. Top ten finalist of the Abu Dhabi Sports Media Pearl Awards. Be it on the pitch, court, track, pool or course, the story will be told. On twitter @KakaTimm